The Washington critic., 1887-07-06
EASTERN BRANOH BRIDGE.
The Original structure ana wha,
ItnGai Ia L.. II,a IaaIu.aa OF H..

The Original structure ana What
Befei IL in the Fortunes OF War.
The bridge over the Eastern Branch, on
the line Of Pennsylvania avenue east, and
leading into Maryland which has existed
only as o memory for the past three score
and ten years, is soon to be replaced by q
wood and iron superstruoture OF modern
design, the last Congress having made an
appropriation OF $4,000 for that purpose.
1t may be interesting to recall the manner
Of it's decease.
General Ross, the British leader, In his
Official dispatch concerning the battle OF
Bsdensburg and the invasion and capture
Of the city Of Washington in 1914, says;
"IIaving halted the army for short
time, determined to march upon WASH
ington, and reached that city at s o'clock.
Judging 1t OF consequence to complete the
destruction Of the public buildings with the
least possible delay, go that the army might
return without loss Of time, the following
buildings were set on fire and consumed;
The Capitol, including the Senate and
House OF Representatives, the Arsenal, the
dock yard, Treasury, War office, Presidents
palace, rope walk and the great bridge
across the Potomac. In the dock yard
frlgate nearly ready o be launched, and
sloop-of.war were consumed. The two
bridges leading to Washington over the
Eastern Branch had been burned by the
enemy, who apprehended IN attack from
that quarter
General Winder, who was In command OF
the American forces at that time, has left a
graphic description OF his arrangements for
the destruction of the bridge. 81 had"
says General Winder, referring TO the night
OF the ed OF August, 1914, ~ had, as sup
posed, left secure arrangement for the de-
struction OF the Eastern Branch bridge.
During the night returned to the bridge
where found about thirty men with axes
for the purpose OF cutting down the bridge,
and no other preparations being made, l
proceeded to the camp, detached party OF
volunteers to burn the upper bridge at
once; detached party OF regular infantry
across the bridge in advance towards the
enemy about one-half mile to prevent him
from selling 1t by surprise, and posted
Burch's artillery to command the pass Of
the bridge on this side. learned at the
bridge that some persons from the Navy
Yard had been to the bridge to take some
steps for destroying 1t, and knowing that
this was the nearest and the only place, In.
deed, from whence could draw powder,
boats and combustibles for the purpose Of
rendering Its destruction sure at any mo-
ment, proceeded, accompanied by Major
Cox OF Georgetown to ascertain what prep
arations had been made.
81 arrived there about 12 or l O'Clock
and saw Colonel Wharton, who referred
me to Commodore Tingley, to whom /
then proceeded and aroused him from his
bed. He Informed me that several casks OF
powder were ready In boats to be sent from
the Navy-Yard when necessary. begged
him to increase the quantity OF powder and
to furnish quantity OF combustibles also
to be laid upon the bridge, that Its destruc-
tion, when necessary, In one way or other
might be put beyond doubt. Commodore
Tingley undertook to have what / re-
questcd provided sent without delay to the
bridge.
~ returned to the bridge to see that the
different detachments which had stationed
there were on the alert and understood the
objects for which they were detached, and
| then returned to the camp between and
4 o'clocl.." page 3ls.)
General T. L. Stansbury, also In CON-
mand Of a body of the American troops,
says in his report to Congress, 1914; "But
about o'clock q. m, Major Bates, as
sistant adjutant-general, came to me with
a message from General Winder, informing
| me that General Winder had retreated from
Battalion Old Fields to the city Of WASH
iDgton, across the bridge which he had
ordered to be burned"
Major Williams, in his account OF the
"Invasion Of Washington" page 2G0, says:
"The burning Of the lower bridge over the
Eastern Branch. where the military council
had been held In the morning, took place
after the retreat Of our troops to the city
and before the British had entered 1t. What
the object Of Its destruction was IL Is din.
cult to imagine. The enemy would have
had no occasion to use 1t, and would not
have carried It away as trophy. But as
all the materials had been gotten ready, both
to burn and blow Il up, 1t was probably
destroyed on the same principle which has
actuated some thrifty housewife, after a fit
of sickness In the family, to swallow the
medicine which was left In order to save
money and prevent waste"
Poor health is now growing article o.
| export to Europe.